The BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting 2026, organized by India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, concluded on August 22, 2026, in Visakhapatnam. The meeting was presided over by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, and Secretary Sh. Sunil Paliwal, building upon previous engagements including the BRICS Youth Summit and BRICS Youth Council Meeting held in Gandhinagar on August 19-20, 2026.
Dr. Mandaviya highlighted India's vision for 2047 and the goal to develop 100,000 young leaders without political background, mentioning the MY Bharat platform that has registered over 25 million youth for volunteering, learning, leadership, and civic engagement. The meeting emphasized shifting from youth participation to youth partnership and from consultation to co-creation.
A key outcome was the adoption of a Joint Statement covering multiple focus areas including Education, Training and Skills; Youth Entrepreneurship; Science, Technology and Innovation; Social and Cultural Participation; Social Work and Volunteering; Development and Combating Poverty; Health and Sports; Environment and Sustainability; Interfaith Youth Dialogue; Youth Exchange; and Youth Inclusion.
Delegates participated in a plantation drive titled 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' where each planted a sapling in honor of their mothers, and visited the historic Totlakonda Buddhist Monastery near Visakhapatnam. The engagements were part of India's BRICS Chairship 2026 under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".
On the sidelines, Dr. Mandaviya held bilateral meetings with counterparts from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, discussing cooperation in youth affairs and sports with emphasis on skill development, youth entrepreneurship, and digital platforms for youth engagement.